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Synthesis of Substrate-Bound Au Nanowires Via an Active Surface Growth Mechanism
Published on: July 18, 2018
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Gold nanohexagrams via active surface growth under sole CTAB control
An Su1,2, Qian Wang1,2, Liping Huang1,2
1Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, China. chenhongyu@westlake.edu.cn.
Nanoscale
|August 29, 2023
Summary
Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) alone induces active surface growth on gold nanoplates, creating unique nano-hexagram shapes. Precise control over growth modes is key for rational synthesis of nanostructures.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Chemical Synthesis
Background:
- Homochiral nanostructure synthesis typically requires chiral ligands.
- Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is often considered a weak ligand in chiral synthesis.
- The role of CTAB in directing nanostructure morphology is underestimated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CTAB as a sole directing agent in gold nanostructure synthesis.
- To understand the mechanism of Active Surface Growth induced by CTAB.
- To explore the modulation of nanostructure morphology through growth rate control.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of gold nanoplates using CTAB as the primary ligand.
- Controlled variation of the ascorbic acid to gold precursor ratio.
- Morphological analysis of resulting gold nanostructures.
Main Results:
- CTAB alone induced Active Surface Growth on gold nanoplates, forming nano-hexagrams with curved tips and steep ridges.
- Growth materials were selectively diverted to active sites, inhibiting other Au surfaces.
- Modulating the growth rate resulted in continuous changes in growth modes and shape evolution.
Conclusions:
- CTAB plays a significant role in chiral synthesis, capable of inducing complex morphologies independently.
- Active Surface Growth, directed by CTAB, is crucial for controlling nanostructure formation.
- Precise modulation of Active Surface Growth offers a pathway for rational synthetic control over nanostructure design.
